10 English Miles – Why?

A plea by Thomas Hamann.

Hello dear friends of the Jever Fun Run,

For me, “10 miles” is synonymous with the “Jever Fun Run” and I would like to tell you here why on this day in August, this special, rarely run distance of 16.093 km has a very special appeal.

First of all, it is the last race of this colorful running festival. The late start at 6:00 PM and running into the evening creates a very special atmosphere. The shared start with the professional athletes in a fun run event also gives a really great feeling. We recreational runners provide a beautiful setting for the elite runners at the front and thus directly help with the amazing performances. Moreover, the external conditions are often better than in the afternoon for the shorter distances. The great heat has passed; noticeable wind in the evening is not expected.

We also experience a special motivation to look good in this starting field over 10 miles. These professionals from different countries with a pace of under 3:00 min/km will lap most of us. But that was also always a great moment in all my years; to see these elegant athletes with fascinating lightness fly by. This impressive perspective only exists in the runner’s field.

For runners of all performance levels, the distance of 10 miles in late summer is also a great test for the approaching half-marathon or marathon starts in autumn. The numerous spectators will follow the exciting action and also our efforts lap by lap and acknowledge them loudly. And the atmosphere with the surely great audience along the new route in Jever will be highly contagious, especially in the evening.

The Jever Fun or Jever Pils directly after crossing the finish line as a reward, with many nice conversations and the awards ceremony in a beautiful evening atmosphere with the setting sun behind the castle, is also a great aspect and an argument for the 10 miles. And precisely because the last lap was and will always be a particularly intense challenge, the last kilometer on the new attractive lap through the Marienstadt is then a festival of joy for the senses and the home stretch to the Old Market is the wonderful cherry on top.

So dear running friends from near and far, dare to take on the 10-mile distance. I have already done this 37 times, will do it again this year and will then have completed over 600 km just during the Jever Fun Run. August 23rd will again be the highlight of my sports year 2025.

Thomas Hamann is the only person to date who has participated in all 10-mile races.